Chelsea 2 - West Ham 0: Blues prove too good for high-flying Hammers

Jose Mourinho may well have showered Sam Allardyce and West Ham with high praise after their transformation from a relegation-threatened team accused of playing 19th century football here last year to Champions League contenders.

But that was where his generosity and admiration for the Hammers stopped and for 90 minutes it was down to business.

Chelsea have their eyes on the Premier League prize and refused to give West Ham, the story of the season so far, any hope of writing another brilliant chapter in their season.

Mourinho's title-chasing Blue machine powered on, dispatching West Ham in routine, professional fashion thanks to goals in each half from captain John Terry and star striker Diego Costa.

TOP: League leaders Chelsea celebrate their victory [GETTY]

West Ham may well be breaking barriers this season in Allardyce's words, flying high in fourth, their highest position at Christmas since 1985, after just one defeat in their previous 11.

But continuing their brilliant run by winning at Chelsea was a Stamford Bridge too far, especially with Mourinho's men in this ruthless and efficient mood.

The Hammers have been handed a real test of how far they have come this season with a festive double header against Chelsea and Arsenal.

And they almost made the worst possible start four minutes in when Carl Jenkinson let Willian's cross from the right bounce past him but was relieved to see Oscar blaze the chance over.

Gary Cahill went close twice before Willian stung West Ham keeper Adrian's palms with a 20 yarder as the Blues started to ramp it up just before the half hour mark.

GOAL: Diego Costa celebrates after scoring Chelsea's second [GETTY]

And the goal they had been threatening eventually arrived in the 31st minute.

Diego Costa nodded a Cesc Fabregas corner goalwards and Terry was Chelsea's Johnny on the spot, perfectly placed to tap in his second goal in two games from a yard out.

By half-time Chelsea might have had more to show for their first-half dominance.

Adrian denied Nemanja Matic with a flying save before Costa had one effort deflected wide and side-footed another over from 12 yards.

The half ended with another Chelsea diving controversy when Branislav Ivanovic went down easily under a challenge from Andy Carroll.

Referee Michael Oliver waved away Chelsea's penalty appeals but the incident - coming a few weeks after Gary Cahill, Willian and Costa were caught in diving storms - sparked a bust up between the two sides which continued after the half-time whistle.

OPENER: Joh Terry pokes home to give Chelsea the lead [GETTY]

This wasn't quite a backs to the wall, defensive display from the Hammers, like the one that sparked Mourinho's infamous '19th century' jibe after January's goalless stalemate between the two sides.

But the spark and thrilling football that has propelled West Ham into Champions League contention was missing.

It was all so comfortable for the Blues in the first 45 though West Ham's more adventurous start after the break suggested the second half might be a bit different.

Two early Hammers corners came to nothing and Eden Hazard provided a warning of the dangers of opening up too much against Mourinho's men when he cut in from the left and fired in a blistering drive that Adrian pushed away.

Allardyce made a double change to try and inspire a comeback, replacing Andy Carroll and Mark Noble with Diafra Sakho and Alex Song.

But he was forced to think again minutes later when Cheikhou Kouyate was robbed in midfield and Hazard fed Costa who tricked his way past three defenders before smashing in Chelsea's second.

FLASHPOINT: Andy Carroll's tackle sparked an angry reaction from the home side [GETTY]

Again the Blues could have added to their lead. Oscar was inches away with a free-kick and Winston Reid produced two heroic blocks to deny the Brazilian and Hazard a third Chelsea goal.

In between Adrian readjusted his feet brilliantly to deny Matic from close range before sub Morgan Amalfitano headed wide and hit the post late on for West Ham.